Wedding Photography
QUICK TIP: You need more time than you think.
On the big day, make sure you tell me what is important to you! Hire vendors for your wedding that you are comfortable with who have a portfolio of work you prefer. Think about all the small things and little details that are important to you to make your day your own. Do you like documentary-style photos? Then it is important to relax, be patient and schedule more time for everything than you think you will need, so those natural moments can happen naturally. Prefer my fine-art style photos? Then save even more time so we can change a setting, get the lighting just right at the location, and take time to pose in a natural and stylistic way. More time will give you the opportunity to capture some relaxed portraits of the two of you on your big day in a fun, creative and artistic way. And let’s be adventurous with the location, sometimes I can find incredible images and beauty in the not-so-typical spots. Your wedding day is going to be INCREDIBLE! You will be looking your best and surrounded by your favorite people in the whole world. It will be an entire day celebrating the two of you and the love you have for each other. This is why your wedding day will be... THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!
It is always a good idea to create a good timeline. I’ve photographed so many different types of weddings and no two have ever been the same. It is a challenge to say exactly how much time will be needed on your specific wedding day, but here are some recommendations and suggestions. Your wedding day is going to fly by, and a good timeline is essential for photography. Keep in mind, most weddings run a bit behind the timeline/schedule, so it is always a good idea to plan some extra time for that.
Time Recommendations on Wedding Day
Time Recommended: at least 30 minutes Think about all the time you are putting into planning and creating your special details, you are most likely going to want to schedule time to allow for some good photos of them. Many people want photos of just the dress hanging somewhere outside or nearby, or by itself somewhere in the hotel room. These photos take time than you'd expect. Getting the right photo takes time... moving the dress and photography gear around to find the just the right spot for the photo. If this is an important photo to you, make sure to allow for additional time. |
“Getting Ready” Photos
Time Recommended: at least 45 minutes Examples include photos of makeup and/or hair being done and/or getting into your wedding day dress/suit/attire.
|
Individual Portraits Time Recommended: 1 hour Individual portraits are often favorites of my couples and they are absolutely my favorite photos to take. I recommend portraits near a well lit window in a hotel suite or decorative room. It is always nice spend extra time around a hotel lobby, garden, or other nearby location. The more time for these photos the better! |
First Look
Time Recommended: 30 minutes You will need at least 30 minutes if you just want a first look. If you want any additional portrait(s) after the first look, plan at least an hour. This moment is when you see each other for the first time on your wedding day. If you want a nice and relaxed looking, you won’t want to be in a rush. |
Wedding Party Photos Time permitting, I do my best to capture classic and creative wedding party photos. Like with the other shots, time is of the essence, so I recommend setting aside an hour for these photos. If you are interested in photographs of individual members of the wedding party, this is usually the best time to take them.
|
Time Recommended: 30 minutes |
Formals (Extended Family, Immediate Family, and Friends)
|
Couples Session
99% of the time these are the photos that you are going to remember and cherish the most. Plus, they are incredibly FUN to take! You might notice a theme by now, time is important. A couples session requires time, but the best photos require the proper timing. The correct time of day makes a huge impact on available light and often affects what scenic shots we can capture. Like most couples, you have most likely chosen your special venue because of the environment or location, so we want to make sure we capture you, at that venue, in the best light possible.
|
Reception Detail and Venue Photos This is the only opportunity I will have to take the photos of the reception area. I know a lot of time gets put into the décor and details here so you will want to make sure to leave time for these photos. It is best that no guests nor vendors are in the area at this time.
|
Couples Session During Reception
Many venues have areas with areas and decor that I can incorporate into a great portrait of the two of you at night. This is really the only time to take capture this memory, and often becomes the couples favorite photo. |
Table Visit Photos (Upon Request) Snapping a photo with each of your guests at their table is a good way to include most of your guests in a photo with you. You'll want to budget about 5 minutes per table to get the shot you are hoping for. This translates to about an hour to cover 10 tables.
|
**TRAVEL TIME**
Do not forget the amount of time it takes to travel between locations. Remember, traveling to a location means you'll most likely need time to travel back (ie. Hotel suite to ceremony. Ceremony to reception). I am a strong guy, but it takes some time to move gear and physically get to different locations. |